Asset Mapping and Economic Development Recommendations for Uvalde
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND GOALS
The Uvalde asset mapping and economic development recommendations project was designed to:
• Deepen our understanding of key community assets in Uvalde.
• Link these assets with community member sentiment and values.
• Understand how economic development can be connected with community well-being in the Uvalde context.
• Design economic development strategies that strengthen economic cross-connectedness.
RESEARCH METHODS
In collaboration with Monica Muñoz Martínez, Noёl Busch-Armendariz, Gloria González-López, and Caitlin Sulley, the IC² Institute applied a mixed-method research approach to assess community assets, values, and fitted economic opportunities in Uvalde, TX.
The team used the following methodology to develop a community asset map.
• Conducted secondary research to understand key community assets, including history, demographics, education levels, social structure, outbound communications and transportation.
• Engaged in two multi-day visits to Uvalde – Walked local streets; observed regional assets firsthand; frequented local businesses; met with residents; identified resident movement and aggregation patterns.
• Conducted over 20 interviews with community leaders and residents.
• Analyzed results for common sentiment, values, challenges, and opportunities.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Uvalde offers many community assets favoring new industry coming to the area – assets including its rich history, the airfield, the industrial park, Southwest Texas Junior College, and low land and development costs. However, the lack of available housing, poor performing schools, low educational attainment, and relatively low skill-readiness of the population all discourage external investment. Indeed, researchers identified significant disparities in Uvalde, including resident socio-economic conditions, educational outcomes, job opportunities, and how the community leadership allocates local investments across the community. These gaps are compounded by decisions at the state and national level to bypass Uvalde in the new “Port to Plains” highway initiative.
Researchers believe Uvalde has the opportunity and capacity to author its own economic story – from the inside outward. Researchers propose initiatives to grow the local economy and promote new, cross-connected relationships among Uvalde residents. Central to the initiatives recommended in the report is an interlinked strategy to stimulate visits to Uvalde by people from the Texas Hill Country and other parts of Texas and support the growth of local businesses. The 365 Agriculture and Creative Product Initiative (described in the full report, at right) is a fulcrum program. It will enhance regional Uvalde branding, grow regional business relationships, and create broader visitor engagement through unique and locally developed products. This strategy offers potential to create new, lasting low-tech jobs while leveraging existing educational institutions to prepare students for advanced agriculture skills and encourage local innovation.
A second priority is making Uvalde the health care hub for the surrounding region. Such a hub will draw in visitors while enhancing local well-being and promoting local business. As people come to Uvalde, they will find renewed community offerings: a revitalized “Four-Square Fridays” empowering small business starts and growth; a Student Ambassador program to assist tourists’ experience of Uvalde; well-defined eco-tourism and place-based experiences; and a new community art initiative deploying a new city “motto” prominently around the city. These unique offerings will greet visitors with a user-friendly and attractive Uvalde experience. Finally, City Marketing interns will enhance these place-based opportunities by capturing tourist experiences and raising awareness around Texas to local event opportunities using social and other media. Collectively, these initiatives offer opportunities for the young and old, rich and poor, new and established residents to work together to advance Uvalde’s future economic and resident well-being.
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